COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE

  A G E N D A

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PURSUANT TO

THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES.

DEPUTATIONS.LIST TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT MEETING

COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS.

1.THE FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC HOUSING.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(August 26, 1998)

Responding to the request of the Committee on July 16, 1998, to review and comment on the communications received from The Public Housing Fightback Campaign, the Regent Park Community Health Centre and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 767, regarding issues affecting the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority.

(NOTE:As directed by the Community and Neighhbourhood Services Committee on July 16, 1998, representatives of The Public Housing Fightback Campaign, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 767, the Ontario Public Services Employees Union, Local 592, and any other interested party, will be given the opportunity to present their concerns on the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority, as the first item of business.)

2.THE PUBLIC HOUSING INQUIRY.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(August 31, 1998)

Responding to the request of the Committee on July 16, 1998, to report on a series of recommendations contained in The Public Housing Inquiry Final Report, forwarded by the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons; and recommending that Council:

(1)receive the report of The Public Housing Inquiry;

(2)inform the members of The Public Housing Inquiry of the City's intention to consult with social housing tenants and providers in developing its capacity to administer the social housing programs; and

(3)request that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services report back on plans for the consultations.

3.NEW DECISION BY THE ONTARIO HOUSING CORPORATION

REGARDING THE SALE OF ITS SCATTERED HOUSES.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(August 24, 1998)

Advising, for information, that the Board of Directors of the Ontario Housing Corporation on July 16 and 17, 1998, adopted a recommendation from its Policy and Program Committee to expand the criteria governing the sale of vacant scattered units to include consideration of the length of the waiting list for the unit size in question; indicating that, in view of the length of waiting lists for subsidized units in the City of Toronto and the significantly lower annual turnover of units, MTHA staff has been advised to stop placing scattered houses "on hold" when they become vacant and to offer them to families on the waiting list; and noting that houses that become vacant may be sold if the cost to renovate or repair them to a suitable state for rental is considered excessive, and will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

4.AMENDMENTS TO HOUSING BY-LAWS.

(a)Corporate Secretary,

The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited

(August 4, 1998)

Advising that the Board of Directors of The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited on July 27, 1998, had before it a report (July 22, 1998) from the City Solicitor advising that amendments are required to By-laws Nos. A-1, A-4, A-8 and A-9 of the Metro Housing Company in order to recognize the new position of Chief Operating Officer, correct the title of the Executive Vice-President's position with the City, and to modify the financial authority of the Chief Operating Officer; and recommending that:

(1)the draft amending by-law [The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited By-law No.20] attached to this report be enacted as a by-law of the Housing Company;

(2)the amending by-law enacted pursuant to Recommendation No. (1) be forwarded to the Clerk of the City of Toronto for confirmation by City Council; and

(3)the appropriate members of the Housing Company staff be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect to Recommendation No. (2).

(b)Corporate Secretary,

The City of Toronto Non-Profit Housing Corporation

(August 4, 1998)

Advising that the Board of Directors of The City of Toronto Non-Profit Housing Corporation (Cityhome) on July 27, 1998, had before it a report (July 23, 1998) from the City Solicitor advising that amendments are required to Cityhome By-law No. 9, as amended, in order to recognize the new position of Chief Operating Officer and to modify the financial authority of the Chief Operating Officer; and recommending that:

(1)the draft amending by-law [Cityhome By-law No. 20] attached to this report be enacted as a by-law of Cityhome;

(2)the amending by-law enacted pursuant to Recommendation No. (1) be forwarded to the Clerk of the City of Toronto for confirmation by City Council; and

(3)the appropriate members of Cityhome staff be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect to Recommendation No. (2).

5.11 ORDNANCE STREET YOUTH SHELTER PROJECT,

TRINITY NIAGARA WARD.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(August 28, 1998)

Providing an update on the development of the youth shelter project at 11 Ordnance Street; and recommending that:

(1)Council confirm the selection of Eva's Place as the lead agency to develop and operate the extended youth shelter project at 11 Ordnance Street, and authorize staff to enter into agreements, in form and content satisfactory to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Commissioner of Corporate Services, with regard to:

(a)lease of the building and operation of the program by Eva's Place; and

(b)disbursement of capital grants to Eva's Place as renovation work progresses, up to a total maximum of $500,000.00 (funds have been allocated for this purpose in the Capital Leverage Fund);

(2)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

6.RESULT OF PROPOSAL CALL FOR EVICTION

PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR THE CITY OF TORONTO.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(August 31, 1998)

Providing an update on the results of the proposal call for eviction prevention programs for the City of Toronto, including information with respect to organization selection and the type of activities they will undertake; noting that, of the nine proposals received, parts of three proposals were accepted from the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation; the West Toronto Community Legal Clinic and the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations; and recommending that the report be received for information.

7.HOSTEL OMBUDSPERSON PILOT PROJECT.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(August 20, 1998)

Responding to the request of the Committee on July 16, 1998, to report on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons respecting a one-year Hostel Ombudsperson pilot project, and recommending that:

(1)in their 1999 budget, the Shelter, Housing and Support Division include a request of $100,000.00 for a purchase of service contract to implement a one-year Hostel Ombudsperson pilot project;

(2)regular 80/20 percent cost-sharing be sought from the Ministry of Community and Social Services and, subject to Provincial funding approval, staff be directed to implement a request for proposal process through which community agencies can submit proposals to operate the Hostel Ombudsperson office;

(3)the pilot project be evaluated according to its satisfaction of project objectives of providing a neutral resource for the protection of hostel user rights and in facilitating fair and equitable access to the hostel system, with a report back by the Commissioner after one year; and

(4)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

8.HEALTH AND SAFETY ALLOCATIONS FOR HOSTELS.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(August 27, 1998)

Respecting health and safety allocations for hostels; and recommending that:

(1)Toronto Hostel Services be authorized to administer 100 percent Provincial funds to hostels for minor capital needs;

(2)the following allocations totalling $114,961.69 be approved:

(3)80 percent of these amounts be advanced to the hostels as soon as required, with the remaining 20 percent released after the work is completed and appropriate expenditure documents have been submitted; and

(4)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

9.HOMES FOR THE AGED - UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNT.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(July 29, 1998)

Recommending that:

(1)authority be given to the Homes for the Aged Division to write-off the arrears accumulated on behalf of F.M. while he was a resident at Kipling Acres Home for the Aged; and

(2)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take necessary action to give effect thereto.

10.CANADIAN CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NETWORK.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(August 19, 1998)

Responding to the request of the Committee to report on the recommendations of the Children and Youth Action Committee regarding a proposal to establish a Canadian Children's Environmental Health Network.

11.TRANSFER PLAN FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES AND

ADJUSTMENTS TO CHILD CARE SUPPORT FOR ONTARIO WORKS.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 1, 1998)

Providing an outline of the transfer plan for child care jointly negotiated between the City and the Ministry of Community and Social Services, as well as the additional provincial subsidy available to support the child care needs of Ontario Works participants, and describing the associated adjustments the City is expected to make in its child care strategy for Ontario Works clients; and recommending that:

(1)the $590,156.00 required as the 1998 municipal cost-sharing contribution to the additional $3,147,500.00 provincial subsidy offered to enhance the funding support for child care within the Ontario Works program be found from the surplus user revenue identified within the Children's Services appropriation in the June 30, 1998, Corporate Variance Report and approval be given to adjust the 1998 and 1999 Children's Services budgets accordingly;

(2)the City negotiate with the Province the fiscal use of the additional provincial funds to meet the costs associated with the current level of Ontario Works child care in 1998 and develop a strategy for implementation in 1999 that would increase the number of Ontario Works clients' children who could be supported with the annualized enhanced provincial funding;

(3) the City accept the $338,000.00 in one time provincial transitional funding to support the technological activities identified in the child care transfer plan;

(4) the Department consult with the community concerning the most appropriate strategies for implementing the requirements of Ontario Works Child Care and report further on the outcome of this consultation recommending specific changes in response to the enhanced level of provincial funding and in response to unmet child care service demand;

(5) the jointly negotiated plan for the transfer of child care services be approved and the Department continue negotiations with the Province for adequate administrative support for the increased program responsibilities and an expeditious transfer date;

(6) the Office of the Mayor, with the assistance of the Children's Advocate and the support of the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services continue to advocate to the Province the City's need for child care subsidy expansion to meet the significant service demands of Ontario Works and other eligible clients; and

(7) the Department report back to Council on the results of the ongoing negotiations with the Province.

12.UPDATE ON THE PROVINCIAL TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITIES

TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES DIVISIONS.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(August 27, 1998)

Providing, for information, an update on:

(1)the transfer of responsibility for managing single parent and temporary care cases currently managed by the Province to Toronto's Ontario Works program; and

(2)the transfer of system management responsibility for the wage subsidy program, special needs resourcing, approved corporations serving special needs children, and family resource centres from the Province to the Children's Services Division.

13.TRANSPORTATION FOR UNEMPLOYED AND

LOW INCOME PERSONS IN TORONTO.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(August 12, 1998)

Providing a status report on the sub-committee convened to address the issue of free transportation for unemployed and low income people in Toronto; advising that the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department has instituted a one-year transportation assistance pilot project for homeless and socially isolated persons as a result of the "On the Move" research, and that a evaluation of the project will be completed upon its conclusion on December 31, 1998.

14.RESPONSE TO DISCUSSION PAPER ON SOCIAL HOUSING REFORM.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 1, 1998)

Providing a response to the recommendations of the Province's Social Housing Committee on the Reform of Social Housing; and recommending that Council:

(1)respond to the Province's Social Housing Committee's request for feedback on its proposed reforms to social housing programs by:

(a)endorsing the recommendations proposed in the Social Housing Committee discussion paper, as summarized in Appendix A of this report;

(b)endorsing the recommendations proposed by housing staff of the Greater Toronto Area, as summarized in Appendix B of this report; and

(c)endorsing the position taken by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, as summarized in Appendix C of this report, with the exception of the request for periodic reviews of provider costs and financial adjustments;

(2)write to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing about the following:

(a)to commend the Social Housing Committee and its Working Groups for the excellent and difficult work they have done to develop and propose reforms which are practical and which balance the divergent, and often competing, interests of social housing stakeholders;

(b)to express Council's continued interest in having municipalities, and the City of Toronto in particular, involved in further design and implementation of program reform, and in other matters related to social housing which directly impact on the City;

(c)to inform the Minister that the City will require establishment of capital reserve funding at an adequate level to meet the needs of public housing, and that this newly established reserve be funded by the Province at no cost to the City;

(d)to clearly state Council's position that the decisions related to management, administration and ownership of public housing should occur at the municipal level, and that ownership should be transferred to the City at no cost;

(e)to advise the Minister that accountability for social housing must be through elected councils, and that Council does not support the establishment of third parties or special purpose bodies by the Province to administer social housing;

(f)to encourage the Minister and the Province, in response to concerns expressed to the Social Housing Committee and by Council about the shortage of affordable housing, to acknowledge that provision of social housing is a shared responsibility of all three levels of government; and

(g)to urge the Province to work with the federal government and municipalities to improve the supply of affordable housing;

(3)write to the Federal Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing about the following:

(a)to advise the Minister of Council's support for program reform as proposed;

(b)to request that the Federal Government resume negotiations with the Province to ensure that transferring administration of cost shared social housing programs to the municipal level can proceed;

(c)to encourage the Minister and the Federal Government, in response to concerns expressed to the Social Housing Committee and by Council about the shortage of affordable housing, to acknowledge that provision of social housing is a shared responsibility of all three levels of government; and

(d)to urge the Federal Government to work with the Province and municipalities to improve the supply of affordable housing;

(4)given the September 24, 1998 deadline for responding to the Social Housing Committee, authorize Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee to submit a response prior to Council approval, and subject to any recommendations Council may make at its meeting on October 1 and 2, 1998; and

(5)recognizing that GTA municipalities have shared issues around social housing, encourage and support GTA councils and staff in their continued efforts to work collaboratively on shared issues.

14a.Councillor Jack Layton

Don River

(June 19, 1998)

Forwarding for endorsement a resolution adopted by the GTA Mayors and Regional Chairs Committee on June 19, 1998, respecting the transfer of social housing responsibilities wherein it recommends that:

"THEREFORE be it resolved that the Premier of Ontario be requested to rescind and defer all bills to municipalities for social housing and agree to start billing on January1, 1999, permitting consultation and negotiation to proceed in a meaningful way, and subject to the passage of legislation providing for the transfer of social housing program oversight responsibilities to municipalities;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the GTA Mayors and Regional Chairs Committee endorse a response to the letter of April 8, 1998, from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing with respect to social housing, as per the letter to the Committee of May 4, 1998, from Keith Ward; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the GTA Mayors and Regional Chairs Committee authorize Keith Ward to make a presentation to the Social Housing Committee and to prepare a written submission for the signature of the Chair, confining said submissions to positions already adopted by the GTA Mayors and Regional Chairs Committee; including points raised in his letter to the Committee of June 5, 1998;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ministers of Health, Community and Social Services, and Municipal Affairs and Housing be requested to consult with municipalities on the definition of supportive housing and the specific projects to be covered by that definition prior to a final determination of projects to be re-assigned; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the GTA Mayors and Regional Chairs Committee endorse a letter to the Minister Responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation advising that there should be no impediment to federal consent to the transfer of program oversight responsibilities from the provincial to the municipal level, commensurate with new municipal financial obligations; noting that the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada "is not attempting to block the signing of a Social Housing Agreement in Ontario", but is instead legitimately concerned about a broad agreement encompassing co-ops with federal operating agreements; and further calling for a clear and immediate separation of agreement issues so that a transfer to municipalities of strictly provincially administered agreements can occur."

ANY OTHER MATTERS.